City picks finalists for Wi-Fi pact

The city has selected five finalists to compete for a multimillion-dollar contract to provide wireless Internet service at O'Hare International and Midway airports.

Still in the running from an initial field of eight are divisions of AT&T Corp., T-Mobile USA, SBC Communications Inc., Concourse Communications Group LLC and Advance Wireless Group LLC, according to a spokeswoman for the Chicago Department of Aviation.

A winner will be selected in about 30 days, according to the spokeswoman, with the city deciding on the basis of qualifications what percentage of revenues from the wireless high-fidelity pact the winner will receive. The city declined to estimate the value of the contract.

When the service is up and running, it will be available in terminals, concourses and other public sections of the two airports.